THEY'VE overcome the first challenger in a brutal run of Mid West Cup clashes but can the CSU Mungoes keep up the level of football they showed in the win at home against Orange United and carry it over to the Cargo Blue Heelers' home ground?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mungoes' speed on both ends of the ball will be needed once again for the trip to face a fellow unbeaten squad, in a game which shapes up to be the match of the round.
CSU coach Rhys Power said last Saturday's win under lights was the best performance of the season to date but knows Mungoes can't afford to take a step back in defence.
"The win on Saturday was unreal. I'm so proud of the boys. They dug in for each other," he said.
"They were big, physical, tough, fast and well drilled but time and time again they were there supporting each other. I'd lost my voice by the end of the game. It was unreal.
"These games with Orange, Cargo and Oberon one after another is a tough run of games so the win against Orange has given the boys a tonne of confidence going into this weekend."
The result was especially pleasing given the players CSU had absent for the clash at Carrington Park.
Three forwards plus captain Callum Flanagan weren't available for the game but the Mungoes' depth was on full display in the 20-4 result.
Flanagan plus Phil Thurgood make their return for the trip west.
"Phil had a little back injury but that's what happens when you're a 106-year-old," Power laughed.
"I think the boys are keen to go over there and play. Cargo will be pretty handy and probably a similar level to where Orange and Oberon are. It should be a good matchup.
"Our season has panned out liked I hoped it would so far. I'm over the moon with it."
The Heelers announced themselves in a big way for this game, coming into it off an 82-0 hammering of the Lithgow Bears.
The plan for Power and the Mungoes this round is a simple one: Don't get sucked into someone else's game plan.
That was a big tick in CSU's box against Orange United and it needs to be replicated away from home.
Power said the best way to make such a thing happen is keeping up the eagerness in defence for the full duration of the game.
"I've really drilled into the boys tackling in numbers and line speed. With our smaller size it's important we get off the line as quick as we can to make tackles and slow the play-the-ball down," he said.
"That means we can play our game and avoid falling into the way others play it. We're a different build to other sides in this comp so we should be playing to our strength.